At Least P90 Billion Needed for Public Health System to Provide Services to the Poor — Health Groups Published on September 18, 2010

System to Provide Services to the Poor — Health Groups

Published on September 18, 2010

Is this proposed budget just a dream? A study conducted by health groups HEAD and AHW revealed that there are enough sources to fund a P90 billion ($$2.037 billion) health budget, if the Aquino government has the political will to do so. 

By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — “In the face of dengue cases doubling this year (compared to last year), the health department’s budget for dengue and other communicable diseases did not increase,” said Dr. Gene Nisperos, vice-president of Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD). In fact, the Aquino government’s proposed budget for health in 2011 is so “very little and inadequate,” it “decreases the allotment for public hospitals and subsidy for indigent patients’ hospitalization,” said Emma S. Manuel, national president of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW).
 

The Health Department proposed a miniscule PhP32-billion health budget for 2011. (Photo by Marya Salamat / bulatlat.com)

“Expect the health services to worsen further in government hospitals,” the two health leaders warned, if Aquino’s proposed budget for health is not increased by Congress.

In hopes of arresting this downward trend in government prioritization of public health, AHW and HEAD have embarked on another campaign this year to prod Congress to increase the health department’s proposed 2011 budget, from the P32.028 billion ($724.9 million) it submitted to P90 billion ($2.037 billion).

The two health groups asked the Aquino government to walk the talk in prioritizing social services and instituting change or reforms..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2010/09/18/at-least-p90-billion-needed-for-public-health-system%C2%A0to-provide-services-to-the-poor-health-groups/